Error: SQLSTATE[HY000]: General error: 1030 Got error 28 from storage engineError: SQLSTATE[HY000]: General error: 1030 Got error 28 from storage engineError: SQLSTATE[HY000]: General error: 1030 Got error 28 from storage engineError: SQLSTATE[HY000]: General error: 1030 Got error 28 from storage engine Threat Advisory Pandemic Alert System (TAPAS): Design Observer

Advertise | Masthead

08.14.06

William Drenttel | Essays

Threat Advisory Pandemic Alert System (TAPAS)

Last week, the London airline liquid-bomb threat elevated the Homeland Security Advisory System to red, the Severe Risk of Terrorist Attacks zone. This week we're back down two stages to Elevated Risk — or yellow. We have Tom Ridge to thank for this graphic innovation (he copyrighted the color-coded alert system back in 2001).

For now at least, the risk of a worldwide pandemic from the Avian Influenza A (H5N1) virus has been momentarily retired from active duty: it is, at least temporarily, off the front pages of our newspapers. Only this week, wild swans in Michigan (one is reminded of Yeats' "I have looked upon those brilliant creatures/And now my heart is sore") were infected with a strain of the bird flu virus. (Mercifully, it's not the highly pathogenic strain we all fear.) Meanwhile, towns across the globe are gearing up with their own preparations . . . even if it turns out that it's all China's fault.

What we lack is that one Tom Ridge-like bit of inspiration that would lend clarity to these confusing times. We took our cue not from the LifeSavers color palette that inspired Ridge's terror alerts, but from the magnificently illustrated oeuvre of a certain John James Audubon (1785-1851). Herewith, one option for Homeland Security. Yes, we know: it's for the birds.

OBSERVATORIAL

National Bird Flu Alert Poster.

Threat Advisory Pandemic Alert System (TAPAS).

Design by William Drenttel, Jessica Helfand & Geoff Halber.

View image >>

Download PDF >>

More from William Drenttel

Winterhouse Fourth Symposium on Design Education and Social Change: Program Description
The original program description for the Winterhouse Institute symposium at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, August 2013 on social design in education.

Third Winterhouse Symposium on Design Education and Social Innovation: Participants
The Winterhouse Third Symposium on Design Education and Social Changeis being held August 19-21, 2012 in New Haven, Connecticut.

Designing for Social Change
Designing for Social Change is a toolkit of strategies, case studies, and stories, offering new opportunities for approaching social design in our communities.

Winterhouse First Symposium on Design Education and Social Change: Program Description
This symposium, sponsored by the Winterhouse Institute, was held October 17-19 2010 in Falls Village, Connecticut. This was the initial information shared with participants.

Winterhouse Second Symposium on Design Education and Social Change: Participants
The Winterhouse Second Symposium on Design Education and Social Change, was held August 14-16, 2011 in Falls Village, Connecticut.

Jobs | November 25